Kim Akano named grant manager for ATS Increasing Capacities Initiative
By Frank M. Yamada
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has appointed Kim Akano as grant manager for the Increasing Capacities to Better Serve Diverse Students Initiative. She will help coordinate a
major multi-year effort, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., that helps ATS member schools strengthen their institutional capacity to meet new challenges and opportunities in theological
education.
Akano joined ATS in August 2026 and is guiding the initiative’s next phase, building on work I have led as executive director in partnership with Director of Culture and Community
Engagement Elsie Miranda and Director of Global Affairs and Engagement Lester Ruiz. She reports to Heather Hartung, senior director of programs and initiatives.
Akano will manage grant operations, coordinate initiative programming, and work closely with ATS member schools, consultants, and partners throughout the remaining years of the grant. She
will support learning communities and peer networks, help measure outcomes and evaluate impact, and capture lessons learned from participating schools. Her work will contribute to the
initiative's effectiveness while helping ensure that its insights and resources inform the future work of ATS.
"Kim brings an exceptional combination of intellectual rigor, strategic insight, and collaborative leadership to this work," said Hartung. "She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build
relationships, navigate complexity, and translate ideas into programs that strengthen theological schools. She will help ATS deepen its service to member schools as they prepare for the
future with creativity, resilience, and faithful stewardship."
Before joining ATS, Akano worked on capacity-building efforts in higher education and nonprofit settings. Most recently, she was a Social Impact Fellow with the American Council of Learned
Societies, where she researched higher education policy and advised senior leaders on initiatives supporting the humanities and social sciences.
Akano is also a PhD candidate in the Religion in the Americas subfield at Princeton University's Department of Religion. Her dissertation, supported by the Forum for Theological Exploration
and the Louisville Institute, examines twentieth-century histories of religion and African migration to the United States. She holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology of
Emory University and a BA in psychology from Rice University.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue this work alongside ATS member schools and colleagues," Akano said. "The Increasing Capacities Initiative is creating space for schools to learn
from one another, experiment thoughtfully, and strengthen their ability to fulfill their missions. I look forward to supporting institutions as they discern new possibilities for theological
education and service."
Akano's appointment reflects the Association's ongoing commitment to helping member schools navigate change with confidence. Her work will help the organization develop resources, foster
collaboration, and strengthen the capacities that empower schools to serve their communities for years to come.
Frank M. Yamada is executive director
of The Association of Theological Schools
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
